SAF 2030 SNEAK PEEK

The Future of Us exhibition provides a glimpse into what the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be like in the future with more unmanned systems.

It is the year 2030. The enemy has taken over a building in Singapore. The SAF is activated to take them down. Unmanned aerial and ground vehicles are sent to survey the area and provide live video footage back to the base.

Through augmented reality glasses, the commander sees what the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) see and, with enemy information collated from various sources, he develops a plan and proceeds to take out the enemy. Elsewhere, an earthquake has struck. The SAF is helping in search-and-rescue efforts. Multiple drones are deployed to survey a wide area simultaneously. Somewhere in a remote corner, one spots a victim trapped among the debris. The exact location of the victim is piped back to the command centre and rescuers are sent to get her out.

These are the kind of scenarios and technologies that the SAF will be grappling with in the future.

Vision for the future

Unmanned systems equipped with guidance, navigation and control algorithms, the idea of man and machine working closely together - all this is showcased at The Future of Us exhibition.

As part of the SG50 celebrations, the exhibition offers people a glimpse of what living in Singapore will be like in the near future, and how the defence force will be part of it.

Explained Colonel (COL) (Ret) Richard Chua: "As we embrace advanced technologies and autonomous robots, soldiers of the future will have very clear information on where their adversaries are located, especially in a battlefield. With this information, we can fulfill our missions more effectively - more precisely - while minimising danger."

COL (Ret) Chua, 57, who heads the Concept and Experimentation Office of the Future Systems and Technology Directorate (FSTD), said there would be many close interactions between soldiers and autonomous robots.

Not only does this enhance their situational awareness of where enemies are located, every soldier will also know his or her respective area of coverage, which will in turn translate into a greater fighting capability.

This vision is brought to life in a video at the exhibition, showing how a team takes down a group of terrorists in an urban building with the help of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.

It is the brainchild of representatives from five organisations - FSTD, DSO National Laboratories, Defence Industry and Systems Office, Defence Science and Technology Agency, and Strategic Planning Office.

Smart technology

With unmanned systems such as the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Heron 1 UAV and the Republic of Singapore Navy's Remote Environmental Monitoring Units autonomous underwater vehicle already in use, FSTD is taking it one step further by introducing greater autonomy into these systems.

This means that the vehicles will have the ability to self-synchronise with one another, operate as a team and execute a mission on their own.

COL (Ret) Chua said: "If I give them a mission of securing an area and one is incapacitated, they will reorganise themselves (by sending a few over) to cover the mission. Instead of humans giving instructions, the system will know (and work according to) the priorities and tasks."

Such artificial intelligence is exactly what the team behind the Multi-Drones Performance worked on. Featuring a group of 16 drones flying in synchrony to create various formations such as a cross and a star, the five-minute musical performance promised to wow audiences with their colourful LED lights.

FSTD Programme Manager Johnson Tang, 44, explained that the key challenge was controlling the drones to go to the right place at the right time and do the right thing.

"By creating distinct shapes or formations, we are showcasing that they are able to do that kind of precision movement. And these are synchronised with music and lighting controls."

Added 28-year-old FSTD Project Manager Sim Shi Yun: "The use of drones allows us to fly at a lower level, giving us full awareness of what is happening on the ground. This helps to create a more pervasive and persistent ground awareness, to allow us to react and respond effectively."

Partnering technology

While such technology is still being researched, there is no doubt about the direction that the SAF is moving in.

"As we are facing a dwindling population, having unmanned systems to do things without much human intervention and the intelligence to do whatever they need to do to accomplish the mission will help solve our manpower issues," said Ms Sim.

COL (Ret) Chua shared her sentiments. "Even at my age, I find that technology is always exciting. My vision is for the future generation and the SAF to embrace man-unmanned teaming... People will have to operate unmanned systems and feel comfortable with that. With a safe and effective autonomous system, we can continue to protect Singapore."

The Future of Us exhibition is open to the public till 8 Mar, from 9am to 9pm daily, including weekends and public holidays. For more information, go to thefutureofus.sg